Pneumatic filler-sealing devices



United States Patent 3,128,689 PNEUMATIC FILLER-SEALING DEVICES Arthur J. Binsfeld, Quarters .l (Oflicers), New York Naval Shipyard, Naval Base, Brooklyn, NY. Filed Feb. '7, 1962, Ser. No. 171,735 4 Claims. (Cl. 98-94) This invention relates to a pneumatic filler and sealing device by which one may easily fill-in and seatspaces remaining around a window fan, blower, air conditioner, or other such unit after or during the installation of such a unit.

Objects of the invention are to provide an easy, economical, and suitable device by which anyone, following simple directions, may be able readily and satisfactorily to complete the necessary filling-in of the spaces surrounding any unit such as a window fan, blower, or air conditioner on all four sides after insertion of same in a window or other opening where some space remains on the sides, bottom and/ or top.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following descriptions of some embodiments of the invention and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in connection with the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of part of a window frame in the opening of which is mounted a typical air conditioner unit, seealed around it in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation of the same;

FIG. 3 is a sectional plan of the sealing unit, the section being taken partly just above the sealing unit and partly through the upper cell of the sealing unit;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation of a noninflatable sealing strip that may be used along the upper and lower edges of the sealing unit;

FIG. 5 is a perspective of the strip shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional plan of the upright cells at one side of the air conditioning unit; and

FIG. 7 is an elevation, partly in section, of the top member and upper ends of the upright members.

Certain problems are inherent in the installation of any small air conditioning unit, fan, or blower such as those found in most average homes, or installed in or through a window or other opening. One of the problems constitutes the filling or sealing of the remaining spaces surrounding the unit after it is in place. Finding and installing suitable filling materials such as wood, metal, cloth, etc., pose a problem to the average person and seldom provide the proper end result after much effort has been expended in installation.

Most of the methods and devices in use leave something to be desired. Installation of wood, tin, etc., necessitates marring or defacing of window framing, sills, etc., and there is rarely an adequate seal to prevent entry of winds, rain, etc. Various types of caulking compounds currently used to fill the remaining minute spaces frequently result in an unsightly and unsatisfactory end product.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the sealing unit or element is provided between the air conditioner unit 1 and the frame 2 of a window in which such' conditioner unit is mounted. In such mountings the sash 12 is raised and the unit 1 disposed between the sill and the sash. A strip 5 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) with an upper face that is concave in transverse cross-section has on its opposite flat face a self-adhering or pressure-adhering strip 6 disposed with its strip 6 against the lower edge of the sash 12 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the strip 5 adheres to the sash by reason of the self adherence of the strip 6. It extends for the full width of the sash as shown in FIG. 1. A strip 9 similar to strip 5 with its 3,128,689 Patented Apr. 14, 1964 pressure strip or layer is disposed along the sill of the window for the full width of the window, as shown in FIG. 1, and with its concave face facing upwardly as shown in FIG. 2. The air conditioning unit 1 is supported just above the sill by a pair of posts 10 that are spaced apart along the sill on the inside of the window, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and on the outside of the window by a pair of brackets 11 that are fastened on the building wall just below the window and extend upwardly and outwardly and are secured at the upper ends to the lower wall of the unit 1. The posts 10 and brackets 11 support the unit 1 just above the sill of the window as shown in FIG. 2.

A pneumatic sealing unit 3 completely surrounds the unit 1, and is formed of flexible sheet material such as rubber, synthetic rubber, plastic rubberized fabric or other elastic or semi-elastic material of sufficient thickness and size to give the desired strength and fill and seal a desired space which it may fill when inflated. This sealing unit 3 is provided with three individual tubular cells A, B, and C, along each side, and an upper tubular cell D and a lower tubular cell E, both of which extend for the full horizontal width of the sealing unit. The two cells A and the cells D and E define a rectangle around the entire periphery of the unit 1, with the top cell D received in the downwardly facing concave surface of strip 5, and the lower cell E received in the concave face of the lower strip 9. The sides of the window frame defining the Window opening have upright channels 13 (see FIGS. 1, 2, and 3) in which the movable lower part of the window slides as the window movable part is raised and lowered. The side, upright cells C of the unit 3 are received in these channels 13, but if the window opening is narrower than the unit 3, one or more of the cells C and if necessary cells B are folded, while the unit 3 is deflated, back upon itself and disposed in the channels 13, so that the cells A, B and C will fill the space of the window opening between the unit 1 and the sides of the window opening.

The upper, horizontal cell D, on its face within the room, as shown in FIG 2 is provided with a check valve 4, like the inflating valve on a pneumatic auto or bicycle tire, leading to the interior of cell D by which the cell D may be inflated by blowing into the valve, or by a bicycle pump applied to the valve, or by any other suitable method. The cell D communicates by a small opening 14 into the tops of each of the side cells A, B, and C, and the latter, at their lower ends communicate by small openings similar to 14 with the bottom cell E, so that inflating air may pass from the cell D to the side cells A, B, and C, at both sides of the unit 1, and from the side cells to the bottom cell E, with the result that all of the cells A, B, C, D, and E, may be inflated merely by introducing air under pressure into the top cell D through the valve 4. As these cells A, B, C, D, and E, are inflated they will expand and completely fill the space on all sides of the unit 1 between that unit and the sash 12, and the sides and bottom of the window frame along the sides and bottom of the window opening. This prevents passage of ambient air past the exterior of the unit 1 through the window opening.

The size of the air-seal is determined by the needs of the user such as the size of the window opening and of the unit 1. It is secured in sealing position by the pressure resulting from its inflation and the associated friction.

Placing of the deflated air-seal around the window fan, blower, or air conditioning unit is easily accomplished after the unit has been set in place and prior to completion of fastening any securing devices in front 10 or on the rear 11.

Increases or decreases of air pressure within the air-seal 3 due to contraction and expansion caused by temperature changes may be minimized by the weight of the window sash 12 resting on the air-seal.

When inflated, the air-seal unit provides many advantages such as the heat insulation due to the dead air space in the cells, the damping of sound waves impinging thereon, and weather proofing. Because it may be formed of elastic or semi-elastic material, the airseal unit 3 readily conforms to various configurations around the unit 1 and the walls of the window defining the space in which the unit 1 may be mounted.

This invention lends itself to decorating and color schemes because of the variety of colors in which manufacturing materials are obtainable.

No damage to surrounding areas occurs because of the materials used in construction and the lack of permanent fastening such as nailing, bolting, etc.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device for fitting and sealing the space in an open window in which a room air-conditioning unit may be mounted, to be disposed between such unit and the window sash, and the sides and still defining the opening in the window frame, which comprises:

(a) an inflatable sealing unit of flexible, sheet impervious material having an opening from face to face thereof of a size and shape to receive and fit a selected air-conditioning unit,

(b) such sealing unit being formed of a top, tubular member of flexible, impervious material, extending for the full horizontal width of said sealing unit and closed at its ends, a bottom tubular member of flexible material also extending for the full horizontal Width of said sealing unit, and also of two groups of upright flexible tubular members of flexible, impervious material, one group at each side of said opening, the members of each group being vertically arranged in side by side relation, flexibly connected to one another at their adjacent sides, and at their ends also flexibly connected to said top and bottom members, and both groups filling the space from the ends of the top and bottom members to said opening,

(a) each of said upright members having therein a separate air cell connected at its upper end to said top member by a passage, and

(d) said top member having a valve controlled inlet connection opening into the interior of said top member through which inflating air under pressure may be admitted to the interior of that member and pass from it through said passages into the air cells of said upright members enabling inflation of the top and upright members.

2. A device for fitting and sealing the space in an open window in which a room air-conditioning unit may be mounted, to be disposed between such unit and the Window sash, and the sides and sill defining the opening in the window frame, which comprises:

(a) an inflatable sealing unit of flexible, sheet impervious material having an opening from face to face thereof of a size and shape to receive and fit a selected air-conditioning unit.

(b) such sealing unit being formed of top and bottom tubular members of flexible, impervious material each extending for the full horizontal width of said sealing unit and closed at its ends, and also of two groups of upright, flexible, tubular closed members of flexible impervious material, one group at each side of said opening, the members of each group being vertically arranged in side by side relation, flexibly connected at their adjacent sides to one another, and also at their ends connected to saidtop and bottorn members, and both groups filling the space from the ends of the top and bottom members to said opening,

(c) each of said upright members having therein a separate air cell connected at its ends by passages to the interiors of said top and bottom members, and

(d) one of said members having a valve controlled air inlet connection leading into the interior of that member through which inflating air under pressure may be admitted to the interior of that member and pass from it into the interiors of the other members, for inflating the entire sealing unit.

3. The device according to claim 1, and two strips equal to the full length of a window sash, one having on one face a lengthwise extending channel in which the top member may be received and nest and on its opposite face a pressure sensitive adhesive coating for attachment and adherence to the lower edge face of a window sash between the sides of the window opening and the other strip having on one face thereof a lengthwise extending channel in which said bottom member may be received and nest, and on its other face a pressure sensitive, adhesive coating for attachment to a sill of a window frame be tween the sides of a window opening.

4. A device for fitting and sealing the space in an open window in which a room air-conditioning unit may be mounted, to be disposed between such unit and the movable window sash, and the sides and sill defining the opening in the window frame, which comprises:

(a) an inflatable sealing unit of flexible, sheet, impervious material having an opening from face to face thereof of a size and shape to receive and fit a selected air-conditioning unit,

(b) such sealing unit being formed of top and bottom members, each extending for the full horizontal width of the sealing unit, for engaging respectively a lower edge of a window sash and an upper face of a sill, and two groups of a plurality of upright, tubular, closed members of flexible impervious material, one group at each side of said opening, the members of each group being disposed side by side and flexibly connected to one another at their adjacent sides and also at their ends connected to said top and bottom members, both groups filling the space from the ends of the top and bottom members to said opening,

(0) one of said top and bottom members being tubular, with closed ends, and formed of flexible, impervious material, also having air conducting passages connecting its interior to the adjacent ends of said upright members,

(d) one of said tubular members having a valve controlled inlet connection leading into the interior of that member through which inflating air under pressure may be admitted into the interior of that member and pass from it into the interiors of the other members that are connected thereto through said passages for inflating the entire sealing unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,369,736 Hurt Feb. 20, 1945 2,588,189 Wilson Mar. 4, 1952 2,818,793 Hord Jan. 7, 1958 2,911,899 Spiegelhalter Nov. 10, 1959 2,946,274 Grimes -2 July 26, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 561,250 Germany Oct. 12, 1932 

1. A DEVICE FOR FITTING AND SEALING THE SPACE IN AN OPEN WINDOW IN WHICH A ROOM AIR-CONDITIONING UNIT MAY BE MOUNTED, TO BE DISPOSED BETWEEN SUCH UNIT AND THE WINDOW SASH, AND THE SIDES AND STILL DEFINING THE OPENING IN THE WINDOW FRAME, WHICH COMPRISES: (A) AN INFLATABLE SEALING UNIT OF FLEXIBLE, SHEET IMPERVIOUS MATERIAL HAVING AN OPENING FROM FACE TO FACE THEREOF OF A SIZE AND SHAPE TO RECEIVE AND FIT A SELECTED AIR-CONDITIONING UNIT, (B) SUCH SEALING UNIT BEING FORMED OF A TOP, TUBULAR MEMBER OF FLEXIBLE, IMPERVIOUS MATERIAL, EXTENDING FOR THE FULL HORIZONTAL WIDTH OF SAID SEALING UNIT AND CLOSED AT ITS ENDS, A BOTTOM TUBULAR MEMBER OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL ALSO EXTENDING FOR THE FULL HORIZONTAL WIDTH OF SAID SEALING UNIT, AND ALSO OF TWO GROUPS OF UPRIGHT FLEXIBLE TUBULAR MEMBERS OF FLEXIBLE, IMPERVIOUS MATERIAL, ONE GROUP AT EACH SIDE OF SAID OPENING, THE MEMBERS OF EACH GROUP BEING VERTICALLY ARRANGED IN SIDE BY SIDE RELATION, FLEXIBLY CONNECTED TO ONE ANOTHER AT THEIR ADJACENT SIDES, AND AT THEIR ENDS ALSO FLEXIBLY CONNECTED TO SAID TOP AND BOTTOM MEMBERS, AND BOTH GROUPS FILLING THE SPACE FROM THE ENDS OF THE TOP AND BOTTOM MEMBERS TO SAID OPENING, (C) EACH OF SAID UPRIGHT MEMBERS HAVING THEREIN A SEPARATE AIR CELL CONNECTED AT ITS UPPER END TO SAID TOP MEMBER BY A PASSAGE, AND (D) SAID TOP MEMBER HAVING A VALVE CONTROLLED INLET CONNECTION OPENING INTO THE INTERIOR OF SAID TOP MEMBER THROUGH WHICH INFLATING AIR UNDER PRESSURE MAY BE ADMITTED TO THE INTERIOR OF THAT MEMBER AND PASS FROM IT THROUGH SAID PASSAGES INTO THE AIR CELLS OF SAID UPRIGHT MEMBERS ENABLING INFLATION OF THE TOP AND UPRIGHT MEMBERS. 